Historic Bridges in California
4,414 bridges built before 1951 in California still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 4,414 bridges in California built before 1951 that remain in active service. These structures are 75+ years old — many predate modern engineering codes and were not designed for today's traffic volumes and vehicle weights. The average design life of a bridge is 50 years, making these aging structures a significant infrastructure concern.
| Bridge | State | Condition | Year Built | Age (Years) | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAD RIVER | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 105 |
| SOUTH DOBBYN CREEK | California | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 281 |
| CHINA GULCH | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 21,400 |
| ANTELOPE CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 132 |
| MCCARTY CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 40 |
| S FORK PINE CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 100 |
| SOUTH FORK JEWETT CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 200 |
| CRAIG CREEK | California | Good | 1937 | 89 | 110 |
| JEWETT CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 600 |
| LITTLE ANTELOPE CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 155 |
| OAT CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 980 |
| CLEAR STREAM | California | Good | 1937 | 89 | 6,700 |
| BAECHTEL CREEK | California | Good | 1937 | 89 | 18,350 |
| SACRAMENTO RIVER OVFL | California | Good | 1937 | 89 | 1,500 |
| BIG BUTTE CREEK OVERFLOW | California | Good | 1937 | 89 | 1,500 |
| BIG BUTTE CREEK OVERFLOW | California | Good | 1937 | 89 | 1,500 |
| BIG BUTTE CREEK OVERFLOW | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 1,500 |
| BRANCH HOWARD SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 93 |
| WILLOW CREEK OVERFLOW | California | Good | 1937 | 89 | 2,678 |
| DEVIL SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 1,139 |
| WYANDOTTE CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 807 |
| ROCKY HUNCUT CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 1,624 |
| ROCK CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 463 |
| HANLON SLOUGH | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 44 |
| LITTLE DRY CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 105 |
| BUNKHAM SLOUGH | California | Good | 1937 | 89 | 2,296 |
| COON CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 1,487 |
| HAUPT CREEK | California | Good | 1937 | 89 | 200 |
| NAPA RIVER | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 813 |
| MORRISON CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 10,800 |
| PARKING LOT | California | Good | 1937 | 89 | 6,000 |
| GOLDEN GATE-SAN FRAN BAY | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 90,932 |
| NICASIO CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 6,000 |
| BUNKER ROAD | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 7,201 |
| EAST ROAD | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 7,201 |
| OLEMA CREEK | California | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 3,500 |
| MARSH CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 5,637 |
| MARSH CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 3,979 |
| LAS TRAMPAS CREEK | California | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 2,200 |
| LAS TRAMPAS CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 900 |
| WILSON WAY | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 9,300 |
| MARTIN LUTHER KING JR BL | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 150 |
| MARTIN LUTHER KING JR BL | California | Poor | 1937 | 89 | 30 |
| WARREN CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 207 |
| WARREN CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 207 |
| BEAR CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 955 |
| NORTH FORK MOKELUMNE RIV | California | Good | 1937 | 89 | 490 |
| PACIFIC CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 1,250 |
| S FORK STANISLAUS RIVER | California | Good | 1937 | 89 | 5,100 |
| DRY CREEK | California | Fair | 1937 | 89 | 75 |
About Historic Bridge Data
Bridges built before 1951 are classified as historic in this database. Many were designed to 1940s standards with lower load limits and narrower lanes. While FHWA requires regular inspections of all bridges regardless of age, older structures often require more frequent monitoring and rehabilitation investment.